Campaigners call for smoking age to be raised from 18 to 21 to protect youngsters

THE smoking age should be raised from 18 to 21 to protect youngsters, campaigners say.

Canadian scientists said raising it to 21 would see a quarter less smokers and urged lawmakers to change the rules to reduce related deaths and illnesses.

Until 2007, British teenagers could buy cigarettes and tobacco aged 16.

The call was made as new guidelines were introduced to help children as young as five quit by encouraging family doctors to take a more active role.

Nearly a fifth - 18 per cent - of children aged 11 to 18 had tried smoking but those experimenting increases with age.

Deborah Arnott, Chief Executive of Action on Smoking and Health, said: "The vast majority of smokers become addicted before the age of 21 while the human brain is still developing, and if you don't start by 21 you're very unlikely to ever become a smoker.

Assistant Professor, Dr John Oyston at the University of Toronto and Scarborough Rouge Hospital, added: “Increasing the minimum legal age for access to tobacco products to 21 or even 25 years would reduce smoking initiation substantially, reduce the prevalence of smoking, improve health across the lifespan, improve the outcome of many teenage pregnancies and save lives.”

Health chiefs are also calling for smoking to be completely banned in all NHS buildings and grounds.

Public Health England is campaigning for a "tobacco-free NHS" with more support on quitting offered to patients, visitors and staff.